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12-year-old boy who donated hair to kids with cancer gets same diagnosis himself

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Health & Wellness

12-year-old boy who donated hair to kids with cancer gets same diagnosis himself

by Embry Roberts / Oct.13.2017 / 6:37 PM ET / Source: TODAY

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In 4th grade, Torrin Breneman of Detroit, Michigan, learned about cancer. Determined to help, he told his parents he wanted to grow his hair out to donate it to kids who were suffering.

"He didn’t have money in the 4th grade — not enough to make a difference," Jason Breneman, Torrin's father, told TODAY. "It was the best he could do."

Torrin spent more than a year growing his hair out to donate it to Wigs for Kids. Courtesy of Jason Breneman

Breneman explained that Torrin was "teased and tormented" — not by classmates, who were largely supportive, but by strangers. "Waiters would ask, 'What can I get for her?' Even when I corrected them," Breneman said. "People would be disrespectful ... It bothered him for over a year while he grew his hair out."

While the cancer was caught early, it had already spread to Torrin's liver, blood, kidney, bones and stomach. He is now undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment — and the Brenemans are facing every parent's worst nightmare.

"I can measure my sleep in seconds," Breneman said. "There's just one ironic twist after another. (Torrin) contracted during Lymphoma Awareness Month ... his favorite color is lime green, which is (the color of the lymphoma cancer ribbon)."

Torrin, who recently contracted an infection in the hospital, is fighting his way through intensive chemotherapy. Courtesy of Jason Breneman

The silver lining has been an outpouring of support from the local community and beyond. "It's been the opening story every day on the local news ... My boss, Robert Nahra, has been an absolute angel," Breneman said. "So many people are offering connections and making donations."

"(Our family has) always taken care of everybody in the community ... People tell us we're the nicest family, the nicest people," said Breneman. "Why do such bad things happen to nice people?"
Courtesy of Jason Breneman

"Don’t overlook anything. It's impossible to overreact," he said. "If your child has a cough, take them in (to the doctor's office). They said that if we had waited a matter of days, it would have been grave."